Transcript Psychology
Rosie Valdez March 24, 2014 Period 7 1. 2. 3. 4. What is Munchhausen by proxy? What causes this disorder? Is there an actual treatment for this disorder? What is the difference between Munchhausen by proxy and Munchhausen syndrome? Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a form of child abuse in which a parent is willing to harm their child in return for attention. This disorder involves any type of caregiver usually a parent who makes a child sick by creating or in most cases actually causing harm to the child. This is done to seek attention of medical providers and others that are around. The Parent/caregiver usually tends to fake the symptoms of illness in her child by adding blood to the child's urine or stool. They also tend to lie about the child's fevers or they also secretly give the child drugs to make the child throw up or have diarrhea. They might also use other tricks like injecting the child with certain drugs that will make them ill. The children are often hospitalized and doctors usually cant seem to find one category for the child's symptoms. Because of this usually the children go through unnecessary medical procedures. The parent is usually very helpful in the hospital setting and is often appreciated by the nursing staff for the care she gives her child. She is often seen as devoted and self-sacrificing, which can make medical professionals unlikely to suspect the diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Her frequent visits unfortunately also make the child accessible to her so that she can induce further symptoms. Changes in the child's condition are almost never witnessed by hospital staff and almost always occur only in the mother's presence. When at the hospital the parent is usually very helpful and respected by the nursing staff for the care she gives her child. This is the attention that is looked for. Usually because of the “care” that is given by the parent the medical professionals don’t suspect the diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Numerous visits unfortunately also make the child easy to get to her so that she can create further symptoms. The changes in the child's condition are rarely witnessed by hospital staff and almost always occur only in the caregivers presence. They will continue to harm the child for their own satisfaction of receiving attention by everyone around. Usually the cause of this is need for attention and pity from doctors, nurses, and other professionals. This syndrome almost always involves the mother abusing the child by looking for unneeded medical attention for the child. It is rare and poorly understood. The child's symptoms do not fit in a particular place of illness or do not fit together well. The child's symptoms improve at the hospital but always reappear at home. The parent is exaggerating the attention they are giving the child or "too helpful." The parent is often involved in a health-care field, such as nursing. Munchausen syndrome occurs because of psychological problems in the adult, and is generally an attention-seeking behavior. The syndrome can be life-threatening for the child involved. Once the syndrome is recognized, in the caregiver the child needs to be protected and removed from care of the parent. The parent should not be accused directly, but offered help. Psychiatric counseling is recommended for the parent involved, but since the disorder is rare very little is known about an actual effective treatment. Police say they have arrested a 21-year-old Arizona mother for child abuse after her infant daughter was diagnosed with nine different rare infections. Doctors treating the child suspected the mother, Blanca Montano, of having something called Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, which caused her to poison her child intentionally to get attention, police said. Montano took her two children to an Arizona hospital in late February with flu-like symptoms. The children were diagnosed and treated for an infection. Montano's son was soon released, but her infant daughter got sicker and sicker. She was eventually diagnosed with nine separate rare infections over the course of her hospital stay, according to a statement from the Tucson Police Department. Staff at the University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz., noticed the child's condition worsened every time she was alone with her mother. They began to suspect Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and reported their suspicions to the police. After launching an investigation, the Tucson Police Department learned that Montano intentionally poisoned her child and caused her illness. Once Montano was barred from visiting, said police, the baby's condition improved significantly. Police arrested Montano on Tuesday, charging her with one count of child abuse. Munchausen syndrome is a mental disorder in which someone with a deep need for attention pretends to be sick or gets sick or injured on purpose. People with Munchausen syndrome may make up symptoms or actually hurt themselves. Munchhausen Syndrome by proxy is when a person is injuring or making someone else sick in order to receive attention. Munchhausen by Proxy Munchhausen syndrome is when the individual person is making them self's sick or causing injuries to them selves for attention. Munchhausen Syndrome Glass House: The Good Mother - Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lW7OzAK4TQ Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 21 Feb. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002522/#a dam_001555.disease.causes>. "Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed. Michelle New. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Mar. 2012. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/munchausen.html>. "Munchausen Syndrome." Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/munchausen-syndrome/basics/definition/con20031319>. Pham, Sherisse. "Mother Accused of Poisoning Own Baby; Rare Case of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?" ABC News. ABC News Network, 07 Apr. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. <http://abcnews.go.com/Health/arizona-mother-accusedpoisoning-baby-munchausen-syndromeproxy/story?id=13308998>.